Know the exam
ISTQB CTFL v4.0 — Exam Information
Everything you need to know about the exam format, scoring, and what's tested.
Questions
40
multiple choice
Passing
65%
26 of 40 correct
Duration
60 min
+15 min non-native English
Validity
Lifetime
No renewal required
Format & Logistics
- Exam: ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0
- Format: Multiple choice, single best answer
- Modes: In-person (paper) · Online proctored
- Prerequisite: None — anyone interested in software testing can take it
- Each question has exactly one correct answer; wrong answers are not penalized.
- Open-book? No. Closed-book exam.
Cognitive Levels (K-levels)
- K1Remember — recall terms and concepts. (13 objectives)
- K2Understand — explain, compare, classify, give examples. (40 objectives)
- K3Apply — use a technique on a given scenario. (7 objectives)
K3 questions usually relate to test design techniques in Chapter 4 (EP, BVA, decision tables, state transition) and parts of Chapter 5 (estimation, prioritization).
Chapter Weighting (approximate question allocation)
| Chapter | Minutes (training) | ≈ Questions (of 40) |
|---|---|---|
| Ch.1 — Fundamentals of Testing | 180 min | 6 |
| Ch.2 — Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle | 130 min | 5 |
| Ch.3 — Static Testing | 80 min | 3 |
| Ch.4 — Test Analysis and Design | 390 min | 14 |
| Ch.5 — Managing the Test Activities | 335 min | 12 |
| Ch.6 — Test Tools | 20 min | 1 |
Estimates derived from the syllabus' recommended training durations.